I have these in Ebony Harness and they’re probably my most comfortable pair in my collection. Great for going out and taking my dog for his walk in the morning. Not traditional but as long as they keep making the more heritage styles, these are a welcome style. Blundstone killers for sure.
Not so fast with the "Blundstone killers" I've literally climbed mountains in my Blundstones. Judging by the sole and tread of these boots, they're not proper hikers.
I own many Red Wing Heritage boots (old guy), and I don’t need a Classic Chelsea to imitate an Iron Ranger. Just like I don’t need my Traction-Tread Iron Rangers to replicate my other Iron Rangers. Variation and experimentation requires a desire to succeed and willingness to fail. Good on Red Wing to try. The “chattering-class” might have to catch up. And my Black Harness Classic Chelsea boots are a groovy option that I plan to wear tonight as we go see The Eagles in concert. Thanks for your thoughts and reviews, always worth a watch and listen.
I’d love to see a comparison between the Redwing Chelseas and Blundstones. A lot of folks throw shade on Bludstones because of their constructions. But they are very comfortable. I’m with you, I find myself wearing my one pair of Blundstones more than the multiple pairs of Red Wings I own.
Longterm and support-wise the redwings will be better. The blundstones will be more comfortable in short walks, etc. But the blundstones rely heavily on an insole for support, which insoles wear out often.
I really like that they put the leather on top of the foam instead of the opposite! Much nicer for comfort/climate. It looks like a good compromise for fast comfort.
All I can say is I’ve been wearing Danner boots all different styles for 25 years. I got my first redwing Chelsea slip on the heritage. I think it’s called. It’s a thinner slip on. I was impressed with the foot measuring process. It told me a lot about my feet which I knew, but I wasn’t sure, they gave the whole measurement they sent it to my email so it shows me every facet of my foot. It’s pretty amazing the break-in. I’ve had it for about four days and they’re really tight but my feet my toes can move around no problem they fit so freaking well it’s insane. I finally got the confidence, buying boots boots, and you know boots are they fit all different everything fits different for some reason but I’m finally home. I finally got a really good Fit and I’m completely satisfied it’s pretty amazing actually
Different boots for different uses. If you need a hard working hard wear boot you get the traditional ones that are purpose built. These new Chelsea boots seem more for "dressing up" or doing work on your feet all day where maybe you're in a factory or on pavement and not in dirt or mud. Built more for comfort than hard use while still being durable and repairable.
I agree. This style of boots will never have the same durability as regular full leather boots. The stretchy synthetic part will wear out and then you throw the chelsea boots away. So why not focus on comfort instead.
I have 7 Red Wing Heritage boots currently, including these Chelseas. I’ve owned Blundstones. These will last for a decade or more and can be resolved. Blundstones are a year of wear, maybe two if you are lucky, and still made in MN. Some of the materials in the insole have been changed/added for comfort, but there is no drop in quality. The addition of the traction Tred Iron Ranger is a new model, not a replacement. It’s a little hyperbolic to suggest that suddenly they are trying to pull a fast one on buyers: it’s a high quality alternative for those who want additional comfort and no break in, and only for a little more than the mass market Blundstones.
Ups and downs to each. Been wearing red wings exclusively for 25 years. I work construction and bought a pair of red wing 2412 and I love them. Super durable. All the safety protection I need, but the break in was a bit rough. I bought the safety toe wing shooter st 8" with the traction tred, all the safety I need, and they were comfortable out of the box, but part of the sole is wearing after about 8 months. These are the best brand boot for the price especially for construction. IMHO. I think red wing is also noticing that a lot of people buying boots now are not using them for traditional reasons that heritage boots were made for i.e. logging, construction, blacksmithing. They like the look, but want the comfort. Just bought a pair of the red wing black Chelsea's for casual use and I am waiting by the door.
I picked up a pair on sale last year. Get a lot of compliments on these. One or two wearings and they’re broken in, compared to my Beckman’s that took a week or more. I think I’ve maintained them once and they still look good. Great casual boots
Lets be honest, it's difficult to make a business case against offering some boots constructed like this. If there's people that don't like it, it's pretty safe to say that they weren't the target customer of this product anyway; the traditional boots haven't went away. You're just expanding your offerings to a larger variety to hit a larger potential customer base. I think Porsche may be the ultimate example of this sort of thing. Through the '70s, '80s, & '90s, while they were CRUSHING it in racing, they were fledgling as an actual business. But, in 2003, they did the *UNTHINKABLE* - they introduced the Cayenne, an SUV. Outrage, women crying, the horror... meanwhile, the income that Porsche has made off of just the Cayenne alone has COMPLETELY changed the company; and the 911s got better, the Boxsters/Caymans got better, the halo supercars got even more extreme, the Cayenne has made Porsche a better company on all fronts. Even the enthusiast one. OK, so maybe swapping out a little bit of leather for a little bit of foam in certain boots isn't going to be Red Wing's 'Cayenne moment'™, but it gets the point across lol
Porsche was getting crushed by McLaren, Nissan and BMW… but hey, at least they make cars that can kill you. They made the cayenne because they weren’t competitive, they just have fanboys, I definitely like the 911 though.
@@Muscovy7 ? McLaren was beaten by the Porsche GT1 and the TWR-Porsche as soon as the first debut year of the Mclaren ended and others adapted to them. Year later McLaren lost again against TWR-Porsche and a Courage C41 (Porsche engine). Mercedes was also a contender.
the problem is this thinking quickly leads to companies moving to a more profit driven model. this almost always leads to downgrades in quality of products that the brand has always been known for, while the prices stay the same. but as you said, it's understandable, because it's easier to make a profit when you can use your brand name to justify the price of a product that is cheaper to make. because it's crazy hard these days to make enough money out of a domestically produced high quality product. however. greed is a helluva thing. there's a huge risk of the brand being destroyed as they're no longer producing the quality they're known for. some even hike the prices up, because they get thirstier for bigger profits.
I don't see a vw coming in buying the whole operation in this case. But I kinda see your point. These boots are fantastic. The first generation cayenne wasn't.
This is the important part. As long as they don‘t cut corners on the classics, sure try out something new. Many people complain about the break-in, so maybe they can reach a new customer demographic.
I bought a pair of these in ebony harness when they were first released and they are far and away the most comfortable pair of boots I have ever owned. I wear these daily and they are still holding up great.
I have these RW Chelsea boots and blundstones. While they are both great I find myself grabbing the Blundstones quite a bit more. I keep these in the rotation but if I had to recommend one or the other it’d be the Blundstones. I find both to pretty durable overall.
Here's a vote for that comparison video! In the meantime, the price seems like a reasonable premium to pay for a premium Chelsea boot that still understands that that market is gonna be expecting comfort.
I’ve had this boot now for about 3 years and I love them. They are my all purpose boot. I still wear my iron rangers but that’s now more only on specific occasions where as these are my daily driver. Red wing stopped making these for a while and I wanted another pair of resoleable Chelsea’s so I bought a pair of Thursday but I’m no where near as happy with those. Those only get worn when I need a black dressy boot now.
I agree, although I’ve broken in a half dozen pairs of red wings, and I’m fine with it however, I know several people who the first comment they make is “ Man, I never wear red wings because they hurt I buy xxxxx boot because they’re comfortable right out of the box 1st day”. Read it and whatever working me an accent you prefer.
Dude, it's like you read my mind! I've been looking at these again since they released the black harness. Increased comfort out of the box is a win for these old dogs, so that aspect is drawing me in. Price is high, but as you point out not THAT much more than Blundstones. A Blundstone alt I'm still super curious about is the Canada West chelseas (I think they might call them romeos). Made in CA, Vibram soles, hard to find in the US.
I just got a pair of and out of the box they are more comfortable that some of the sneakers I've been wearing most of my life. Just now getting into Red Wing boots after 36 years of wearing Nikes.
Watching this video while wearing these boots in ebony harness. I have to say, they were extremely comfy since day 1. I wanted some comfy slip on boots because I was jealous of my wife’s blundstones. If this is what you want, these are head and shoulders better than blundstones and worth ever penny of the extra $75. Plus, the pull-up on the ebony harness is developing a great patina
I have these and blundstones and I prefer these. Less cushion but they are more comfortable and have held up better. I don’t think this is redwing cheapening or regressing, it is just a different purpose and a different product. Similar to the traction tred iron rangers
I think your comparison with Blundstones is apt because this seems to be Red Wing's answer to the popularity of those boots. In fact, I bet their internal meetings were built around competing and beating them.
I agree 100%. Redwing has a really big line and needs to appeal to a lot of customers. The boots I’ve always bought are the heavy work boots, but I totally understand the client who would want something like this.
Part of the reason for Blundstones popularity is because they make good hiking boots. The crepe sole on these Redwings makes it obvious they are not geared toward hikers. Not to mention crepe soles with no heel being ugly.
I have three pairs of Iron Rangers and agree that there is definitely an extended break-in time, but that's okay with me. If I'm paying 300-plus dollars for a boot I want long-lasting quality.
I have had these boots for a year. I don’t wear them for work in the summer as a finish carpenter, because I wear vans for the balance aspect and mobility. These boots have taken ages to break in. I ended up taking them into redwing to have them stretch the arches for me. The one thing that blows my mind about redwing, is the customer service at their stores. I don’t know anyone else that offers what they do
I definitely want to see a comparison to Blundstones, but I'd also be interested in looking at the vibram soled "All Terrain Boots" blundstones to see if there is any improvement other than the sole
Id love to see the revival of the MITUSA. Next suggestion would be the Danner Sierra/Grouse. Half canvas uppers, and have been my favorite style for a decade+
This is a great looking, comfortable, well made boot. I wear these for lighter day construction work in finished houses, punchlisting, etc, as well as at the office, and going out. Versatile and clean up really well. The leather & construction are a noticeable notch above a Blundstone or Danner.
Whites has recently released a plain toe, wedge sole boot names “Springdale.” I think you would love it. It has the C461 last, which is similar to the their 4811 Smoke Jumper last and Bakers/Whites Bounty Hunter last.
Redwing is constantly changing and evolving even though imo they really don’t need too. I think their heritage line has been fantastic, I’ve had dozens of different pairs! Iron rangers, moc toes, blacksmiths, Cooper Mocs, sawmills, and a few other ones! This doesn’t include their work line, I’ve had quite a few of those too. The bad thing about redwing is you’ll find your favorite boot, and they’ll discontinue it! I live in my 953’s which are USA made and have a poron insole instead of leather, but they’re comfortable and they last! Basic leather boot with a shockingly supportive and slip resistant supersoles! Check ‘em out! Anyway I used to wear the 952’s which was a 6” version of the 953, discontinued it… of course. I still miss the 1178 pecos and the 2112 insulated work boots. I also wish they bring back the smooth cork soles too!! Those were epically good imo
O I think they’re definitely a well built strong long lasting boot. They have a mini lug vibram sole which is actually long lasting. I preferred the old smooth cork style soles but I can see why they went with the mini lug. Other than that change a few years back they’re still well built and tough boots. Id Recommend them
The whole brands going down hill and catering toward yuppies and boyfriend boots for dinner it’s pathetic they won’t make more 877s (Any 8in moc) in different colors
I have tried Tecovas, Thursday, Red Back, & Blundstone trying to find the best chelsea boots for me. I have high arches and the Red Wing chelsea boot is the most comfortable for me.
I'm really considering these boots for that same reason, I currently have the redbacks. And while they are great long lasting boots I just feel like the comfort isn't the best for me especially working for 10 hours a day. And I also do have high arcs would you recommend these?
I'm a 3rd generation farmer and have always used Redwing from my father to my brothers and my kids and grandkids. I understand times change, and companies are there to make money, and we have seen many companies going to China and other nations. It's a shame, but the ones responsible in my humble opinion are the people in power they can keep American companies here, but because of taxes, regulation, and crooks, companies have no options ,as a farmer I'm always trying to buy American made products even if it cost more there's still lots of smaller companies that car produce almost anything, God bless America.
I think that's an accurate way of explaining it. I understand the need for tradition but also the room for people who may only buy this one pair that aren't really boot folks.
I just wanted to let you know that because of your channel I was able to arm myself with enough information to find myself a perfect pair of hiking boots. I'm going on a trip over new years and I've been planning it all year and cannot wait -- and now my feet will be happy too!
Would love a tier list boots, especially chelsea ones. Let's say for X budget, that would be amazing. And although they all look nice I'm not sure how they'd do in canadian winter (-20C) and often walking on snow even in cities. Anybody use them as daily boots even in harsh winter?
Solid info, sort of bummed on the sole. I feel like the business owner in you understands the decision but the leather purist in you resisted. You made me come around to it overall and now I’d love to see the Blundstone x Redwing comparison. Also, it would be cool see some more companies in the Mitusa series - maybe some east coast/New England companies.
My iron rangers were not comfortable out of the box but are extremely comfortable now. I bought them 7 years ago. I bought the redwing chelsea boots and loved them for the first 9 months. They fell apart at around 18 months.
Red Wing has a fairly large position in my boot collection. I have both the work chelsea and mocktoe. Wear both regularly, and will say that the mocktoe was absolutely brutal to break in….but worth it. My go to grab and go boot, for comfort, is the red wing weekender chelsea. Definitely not the same quality construction as the other boots, but once broken in feels like wearing a pair of running shoes
I'm an old school guy that loves the feeling of a durable and long lasting footwear. However, I recently bought a slip on Wolverine to wear as a garage/muck easy to put on boot and was disappointed with them. They got flimsier the longer I wore them and left me wanting a more durable slip on boot. This particular boot can definitely fill a gap in my boot lineup and it might be the boot I buy next. I still love my Iron Rangers and my 606 Red Wing boots and one could say my feet only like Red Wings boots. I also only wear Allen Edmonds shoes because I think they are very comfortable. Also, both are American made, just wish Allen Edmonds sourced all their leather in America.
I've been wearing the amber harness for a month now, but I'm considering getting the black harness. They're incredibly comfortable, almost like wearing sneakers.
In the amazon reviews the biggest complaint is “for the price they should be more comfortable or have a removable insole” But people saying this don't know what they're talking about and should be ignored. If Apple (when steve was at the helm) listened to every complaint people have about their phones and tried to cater to them we would have a mess of a phone that no one is happy with. Sometimes a company needs to realize their product the way they design it is more important than some soyboys on the internet saying the boot is a hard break in. Do you know what shoes are hard to break in? Dress shoes, but the wall street douch bags wearing Farragamo’s and Gucci’s arent crying about a break in because they know you have to break them in. I cant support redwing anymore, not because their materials but because their willingness to compromise to satisfy a few loud wimps. Remember the Neoprene Iron Rangers? Yeah, bunch of Soyboys ruined them.
While I own two pair of Red Wings (Iron Ranger and MocToe), I think I'd rather have the Blundstone Chelsea over Red Wing. The price difference is more like $90 a pair, which makes the Red Wings almost 50% more in cost compared to the Blundstones.
Russell Moccasin is a company worth reaching out to. My PEPE had an old pair back in the day and he had them for 20 years as a carpenter. He helped build many important buildings in New Hampshire back in the 50s and 60s. These moc toe boots are very very expensive and you should work a deal with them. I BET they would LOVE the exposure from a professional like you and they would sell boot many boots if you showcase them. They are obviously high quality and a you are the ONLY person going to cut them in half!!!
I have 3 pairs of Redwings, 2 Iron Rangers in Black Harness and Amber Harness, and a pair of Roughnecks in Briar Oil Slick. The main selling point to me was the veg tan leather insole. Any foam layer flexing in the insole of a shoe causes nerves to pinch in my feet leading to pain and numbness all the way up my legs. I don't know why this happens but I'll never be able to wear sneakers ever again. So that foam insole in the Chelsea boot is an immediate disqualification. i think the savings in corner cutting is a big factor with RW, switching out the vegtan insole probably saves them 5-10 bucks per pair. That adds up to a pretty big pile of cash. Their ricing is pretty good but my next pair of boots will probably be Parkhurst. The Iron Rangers are 350 bucks but for a little bit more (358-388 depending on the leather used) Parkhurst gives you a service boot with a full veg tan midsole, cork filling and veg tan insole. Also instead of the cheap leatherboard heel counter from RW, Parkhurst uses a thick slab of veg tan leather. Parkhurst also uses veg tan leather as the toe stiffener instead of plastic, they also give you a veg tan leather heel stack. And the boot is lined with veg tan leather. This is a LOT of upgrades for 8 bucks more. I think I've bought my last pair of Redwings, sadly.
Can you make a video comparing Nike by you products to the regular version? I'm super curios to see the differences as I know the materials are different! Love the videos! Very unique content
I have weekender chukkas that I essentially wear in lieu of a casual sneaker. I don't always want or need the bulk of a 6" boot. The weekenders have completely synthetic soles, and are stitchdown instead of GYW. The entire concept of that line is a product that is lightweight and for light duty. This product is clearly an in between, along with the wedge iron ranger. Neither of these are new, or a change of direction - but built for a different purpose.
I work for a transit company that pays for our workboots once a year, we get a 300 dollar boucher at the redwing truck. I noticed that 90% of the mechanics and facilites techs dont wear the redwings. The mechanics mostly buy Redback boots that they pay out of pocket. They say Redwing are heavy and take to long to break inn. some guys dont want a boot that will last a few years. they prefer out the box comfort even if it means replacing yearly.
BRING BACK OXFORDS. Please, if someone from red wing sees this, bring back moc and plain toe oxfords 🙏 I’m sick of scouring the internet for second hand pairs
I’ve worn a pair of Red Wong Ashby Moc Toes throughout the entirety of my adult working career (which is really only about 5 years 😆) and i love them. Recently got a pair of the classic mocs and also really love them. Break In period is a B-Word but i love them nonetheless and i can feel the comfort really coming in. I really love the only ways of doing things especially with boots and people should tru and break in a leather insole at least once in their lives. With that being said, i love the idea that Red Wing is making heritage boots with a few tweaked alterations to give an alternative to those who want a nicer made boot but are afraid to or don’t know how yo properly break in a boot. I personally really want to try a pair if Iron Rangers with the traction Sole. There’s nothing wrong with expanding to get more people into boots. Peeps needs to stop gatekeeping the boot world.
🤔I've worn full-leather, norwegian-stitched boots for decades. But nowadays I prefer the comfort of a TPU-sole as delifered by Redback or Blundstone. They may only last 5 years, but so what: they are easier to replace then my worn-out body parts. Not to mention less pain with them.
I like these because they seem to be bit of a hybrid; not quite a beefy moc toe but an upgraded Chelsea. I do like the aesthetic of a single pull tab and the harness leather and white Christy sole. I recently got my Beckett Simonon Silvas and while they have twin pull tabs, they are easy to doff/don and somewhat surprised my doctor by removing them so quickly (I usually see him when wearing my lace up work boots). Not a fan of the toe but still seems like a good boot for its intended purpose, given the materials used.
Weston. It's criminal at this point in the life and success of the channel that you haven't cut open a pair of Truman Boots, Oakstreet, Parkhurst. Love, a boot enthusiast
I'm a thorogood guy because of there day one comfort. I'm hard on my boots and my only complaint with thorogood is the soles wear out fast. I'm considering giving these a try
I bought a pair of the Red Wing Classic Chelsea and an almost identical pair of the Danner Classic Chelsea. And I have to say that the Danner is significantly more comfortable.
Here's a vote for the comparison with Blundstone, I'd wager this new RW chelsea with superior materials and out-of-the-box comfort would be better value. As long as they maintain the original heritage line I'm fine with this shift. Sometimes you just need a boot that works straightaway without spending the time on a lengthy break in. Everything else is made to the high standards of Red Wing and I'd bet that when eventually getting these resoled you could request a full leather footbed.
The local red wing store, where I’m at do not have any heritage boots on display. They only have work boots, work sneakers, or Irish Setters. That being said, none of their work boots have heritage type construction. They all have the super souls or rubber soles. Their traction tread light with the nubuck leather is the closest thing they have to heritage work boot at their stores. With what they are stocking on their shelves , it looks like they are constructing their footwear for mass production which affects their materials. I would really like to see you review one of their super soul boots. I have their Dyna Force and have been wearing it for a year and a half, and it’s still feels like it’s not broken in. The sole is horrible to stand in.
Probably trying to catch the Blundstone tidal wave to be honest. they're everywhere and super comfortable. If Red Wing ditches the 6mm veg tan insole for iron rangers proper, than yes theyre sunk.
I like the way they look in Hawthorne but i just dont like crepe soles the way I used to. and im uncertain if red wing has a similar style and weight of sole to that of a blundstone available to replace it when it inevitably does start to wear. These could either be a great blundstone alternative with the good construction and leather lining or twice the weight depending on if you put a vibram sole and heel on it
I mean I look at it this way. I have 4 pairs of Thorogood mocks and 2 pairs of Red Wing mocks. Love both, but I go to the Thorogoods a lot more because I know whatever the day throws at me they will be a lot more comfortable.
Here's what I don't understand. They only make a limited set of these boots on a wide last, but they are ALWAYS sold out. I would have bought a pair of these today if they had any that would fit. I'm constantly looking for something quick to put on.
I don't see any "future death" stuff in this boot. IMO it's just Redwing's answer to Blundstone & Redback. You can't attach any meaning from this boot's construction to an Iron Ranger or Blacksmith, they are squarely targeting Blundstone in my opinion.
I got the same boot in the same color back when they first came out. And as someone who owns in his fully broken in and iron ranger and this classic. Chelsea, the break in time significantly different two weeks versus 6 weeks. But now that they're both broken in, they are equally comfortable. My only complaint with the boot is I personally don't like the traction tread sole. So I got them resoled last year and had them put on a heel
That sole is the biggest drawback of these boots. I can go on a fairly extensive hike in my Blundstones, these don't look like good hiking soles to me.
I’m happy they’re trying to make them more comfortable, I have a couple pairs and that thick leather insole is hard as a rock. Even after breaking them in, they’re still sort of hard as a rock. Death of Red wing is a joke. FPNWB!
I'd love to see more mid-high end boot brands, especially the smaller ones with cult followings like Truman, Oak Street, Parkhurst, and Bordon (stitchdown boots, great leather, awesome construction). You can explore different components - for example, I don't think you've ever cut apart an Itshide sole or a CF Stead leather. You mentioned in the Grant Stone video that they are the best value boots, but it's hard to say that when you haven't really compared with anything else in the same tier!
@RoseAnvil I know that you just did the Carter weatherproof Allen Edmonds boot (price cut to $250 right now!) but PLEASE do an eval of the Higgins Mill boot. Allen Edmonds is playing games with the quality of their other boots, but the Higgins Mill boot is their standard bearer. Some of us are very curious about this boot. Please do the Dainite sole Higgins Mill, as the lug sole Higgins Mill boots have clearly been thrifted. Fingers crossed that the Higgins Mill is still leather insole.
I hate no -laces shoes and boots. They always feel clunky and sloppy on my foot. Plus the heel always rubs and that hard counter. Is there a leather boot that doesn't have a hard counter?
So, little beknownst to all this is the second change redwing has made to this boot, when they released these in the ebony harness the boot was completely different internally, the vamp liner was made of a synthetic material and the foot bed was poron. They have since updated it to what you see here. Which is a vast improvement. There is another reason these aren't made like the ranger or the MT. In a chelsea it is the shape of the boot that holds it to your foot. If all natural materials were used each boot would have to be custom made to fit, these modern materials allow a limited number of sizes to fit a greater majority of feet.
2 best brand of boots I ever owned were Is Wolverine 600 g marauders and Rocky 600 g boots . Both lace to toe. I searched through your videos and I didn't find anything on rocky boots or American made Wolverine bootsWould like to see you do more cold weather style boots for outdoors people
It pisses me off that Redwing put in that white insole layer (paper?) instead of a $5 piece of real leather! If they had done that, I would have been fine with this boot. The insole IMO is the most important component in any boot and it HAS to be real leather!
